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The Department of Family and Consumer Sciences is a part of the College of Sciences at Harding University, a private liberal arts university in Searcy, AR. The Department offers the B.S. degree in Child Development, Child Life, Family and Consumer Sciences, Family and Consumer Sciences Education, Family Life Education; Fashion Merchandising, and, Nutrition and Dietetics. Approximately 150 students are enrolled in the Department with six full-time faculty and threeadjuncts. The Family Life Education Program is approved by the National Council on Family Relations. The Child Life Specialist program fulfills course requirements of the Association of Child Life Professionals for entry into a post-baccalaureate internship. The Didactic Nutrition and Dietetics Program is accredited by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Teacher licensure in the state of Arkansas is granted for graduates of the Family and Consumer Sciences Education program.

The Department of Family Studies seeks to better equip for human services by offering a bachelor program in Family and Human Services and a minor in Family Studies. This innovative curriculum follows the course guidelines of the National Council on Family Relations as closely as possible, incorporating Family Studies courses with coursework from other departments to provide the student theological, theoretical, and practical training. Students who have earned the degree in Family and Human Services serve in a variety of capacities such as family educators, family caseworkers, social services, youth counselors, mental health technicians, dispute mediators, foster care caseworkers, and adoption and placement counselors. The degree in Family and Human Services provides an excellent foundation for graduate programs in marriage and family therapy, professional counseling, social work, family education, and other related fields.

Human Development and Family Sciences students study the growth, development, and interpersonal dynamics of individuals and families across the lifespan. The curriculum promotes an integrated understanding of individual and family development through intensive professional training and hands-on experiences. Courses emphasize life-span development, family dynamics, and methodologies for working with families and individuals of all ages. HDFS provides understanding of individual development within the context of families and communities. Students are challenged to understand the interconnectedness between individuals of different ages within their family systems as well as the interconnectedness of individual family systems with larger systems reflected in their communities and across the world.

Areas of Study

Development (Child, Human, or Family) - Master's

Development (Child, Human, or Family) - Undergraduate

Family Science/Studies - Master's

Family Science/Studies - Undergraduate

Last Updated

September 19, 2016

The discipline of Family Science is vibrant and growing. Visit Family.Science to learn more.